Main
Ifeoma Ozodiegwu
I have published scientific papers that generate insights about global health from complex surveys, supported national malaria programs to apply quantitative methods to inform strategic planning, and developed analysis pipelines to make it easy to visualise and generate estimates from the Demographic and Health Surveys.
Positions
Postdoctoral Fellow
Malaria Modeling Research Group (Gerardin’s Lab)
Northwestern University
present - 2019
- Conducted situational analysis of malaria morbidity and mortality in Nigeria and Burkina Faso with Demographic and Health Surveys, and routine data to estimate parameters for quantitative assessment of optimal intervention packages
- Provided technical advice to the Nigerian Malaria Elimination Programme on optimal subnational interventions along with related statistics to support evidence-based strategic planning, and the achievement of national malaria targets and policy-makers in endemic countries
- Collaborated with national and international experts to develop mathematical models of malaria transmission, reports and analyses, and document best practices and lessons learned
- Supported the development of national capacity building plans and strategies to develop evidence-informed subnational malaria strategic plans using mathematical models of malaria transmission
- Conducted a critique of the demographic and health surveys in relation to subnational malaria indicators to inform questionnaire and survey strategy improvements
- Collaborated with staff within Northwestern Memorial Hospital to support development of a simulation modeling platform for hospital surge capacity planning for COVID-19
Consultant
Dept of Science, Information and Dissemination
World Health Organization
2020
- Led data collation and quality assurance of the Eastern Mediterranean health indicators for the 2020 annual report
- Led data visualization of these indicators for the report, interfacing with the graphics team to ensure its timely production
Research Associate
Dept of Biostatistics and Epidemiology
East Tenessee State University
2019 - 2015
- Led research to estimate subnational obesity prevalence in 7 African countries to measure progress towards achieving targets in the Global Non-communicable Disease Monitoring Framework
- Analyzed the relationship between social determinants of health and obesity in 22 African countries and proposed recommendations for reducing obesity-related morbidity and mortality
- Supported research on adverse childhood experiences and questionnaire development
Lead Consultant
Data Analysis and Evaluation
Community Innovation Center
2015 - 2014
- Founded a consultancy company to support program planning, data analysis and evaluation
- Led a needs assessment to identify gaps and set priorities for restructuring of the Nigerian National Neglected Tropical Diseases Monitoring and Evaluation System (client: Federal Ministry of Health and RTI International)
- Developed and implemented a capacity building programme on data analysis and evaluation for Federal Ministry of Health Neglected Tropical Diseases Monitoring and Evaluation staff
- Supported development of data collection and analysis plans to understand the distribution and purchasing practices for malaria chemoprevention in Nigeria (client: Society for Family Health)
Global Health Fellow
Research and Communications
Centre for Infectious Disease Research in Zambia
2014 - 2013
- Designed a data collection and analysis platform to collect health quality data, and conduct real-time descriptive analysis to understand factors associated with diarrheal disease in children under the age of five
- Collated data depicting the Zambian health situation and outcomes of health interventions led by CIDRZ staff, and created reports for Ministry of Health staff to inform priority-setting
- Led capacity building training in data collection and analysis for CIDRZ staff
Statistical Quality Assurance Specialist
Research and Evaluation
Washington DC Dept of Behavioral Health
2013 - 2012
- Supported design and implementation of surveys, and analysis to evaluate accessibility, acceptability and quality of mental health care received within the District of Columbia’s public and private institutions
- Designed data collection system, and led capacity building for data collectors
Other Positions
Co-Principal Investigator
COVID-19 Rapid Response Grant Award
N/A
present - 2020
- Lead research to estimate Northwestern Memorial Hospital Bed Capacity Needs with a discrete event simulation model
Board Member
Malaria Modeling Consortium
N/A
2021 - 2019
- Represent Northwestern University at the Malaria Modeling Consortium, an international body of malaria modelers and stakeholders
- Contribute to the development of strategies to advance the use of modeling for national intervention planning
- Contribute to the development of standards within the modeling community
Talks, Publications, & Working Papers
“I am passionate about data-driven decision-making. In many resource-poor settings, primary data is not readily available. My expertise lies in applying quantitative methods to make the best decisions with secondary data.”
Working Paper: Beyond national indicators: Adapting the Demographic and Health Surveys program to better inform subnational malaria intervention policy
Under peer review with the Malaria Journal
N/A
2021
- Authored with Ambrose M, Battle K, Bever C, Diallo O, Galatas B, Runge M, Gerardin J
Working Paper: Systematic review of the global implementation of adverse childhood experiences surveys
Under review with Child Abuse and Neglect
N/A
2021
- Authored with Quinn M, Okwori Glory, Steward Steven, Linh Ha
Application of mathematical models to inform national strategic planning in Nigeria
6th Future of Malaria Research Symposium
N/A
2020
- Presentation of project performed at the Gerardin Lab
Urban-rural determinants of malaria transmission intensity, insecticide treated net Access and use in Nigeria
Lightning Talk at the Northwestern Institute of Complex Systems
N/A
2020
- Presentation of ongoing project at the Gerardin Lab with mentee, Chilochibi Chiziba
Is the positive association of middle income and rich household wealth on adult Sub-Saharan african womens overweight status modified by the level of education attainment? A cross-sectional study of 22 countries
BMC Public Health
N/A
2020
- Authored with Doctor HV, Quinn M, Mercer LD, Omoike EO, Mamudu HM
Working Paper: Adult female overweight and obesity prevalence in seven sub-saharan african countries: A baseline sub-national assessment of indicator 14 Of the Global NCD Monitoring Framework
Preprints.org
N/A
2020
- Authored with Mercer LD, Quinn M, Doctor HV, Mamudu HM
Country-level analysis of the association between maternal obesity with neonatal mortality in Sub-Saharan Africa: A cross- sectional study of Demographic and Health Surveys from 34 countries
Annals of Global Health
N/A
2019
- Authored with Mamudu HM, Wang L, Wallace R, Quinn M, Liu Y, Doctor HV
A qualitative evidence synthesis of contextual factors contributing to female overweight and obesity over the life course in Sub-Saharan Africa
PLoS One
N/A
2019
- Authored with Littleton MA, Nwabueze C, Famojuro O, Quinn M, Wallace R, Mamudu HM
Methods for understanding childhood trauma: modifying the adverse childhood experiences international questionnaire for cultural competency
International Journal of Public Health
N/A
2017
- Authored with Quinn M, Caldara G, Collins K, Owens H, Loudermilk E, Stinson JD
Selected Press (About)
Time to act on malnutrition in all its forms in West Africa
Transform Nutrition West Africa
N/A
2020
- My qualitative evidence synthesis was one of four works highlighted on this Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation funded knowledge mobilization platform
- I was asked to give direct comment on my findings to guide research and policy action
Education
DrPH, Epidemiology
Dept of Biostatistics and Epidemiology
East Tenessee State University
2019 - 2015
- Dissertation: The prevalence and context of Adult Female Overweight and Obesity in sub-Saharan Africa
- Recipient of a Rotary International Global Grant
MPH, Health Services Administration
Health Services Management and Policy
East Tenessee State University
2012 - 2010
- Supported evaluation of national tobacco policies during internship with the World Health Organization
- Recipient of the Frist Global Health Leader Award